This briefing consisted of two videos, one for everyone giving information on the island and how to protect the island, and one about driving on the island. I was over 21, able to drive manual, and very interested in driving, and thus, I was appointed driver in the guy's car. The two other cars consisted of 10 girls in one, and 11 mixed in the other. We caravanned through town to the camping sheds to get the cars outfitted and ready to rock.
My first driving experience was pretty uneventful. The two most difficult things, I think, were the vehicle itself, with a very high center of gravity and soft suspension, and trying to stay centered in the lane when you're on the other side of the car. I've been here long enough that my brain has reset into driving on the left hand side of the street and this was not an issue.
They have a very precise way of packing the cars, like a jigsaw puzzle. Everything has to come out, then tents, grill, table, all go up top in a certain order, followed by the coolers and the utility box. Sleeping bags and mats are wedged under benches and into any free air spaces. There are two benches running the length of the car. Four guys sat on each one with their bags on their laps. It was a very "cosy" ride.
We then set off to the grocery store to buy food and supplies for the next three days. We had not really eaten today, and setting 10 hungry guys loose in a grocery store is a recipe for disaster. I was absolutely amazed at the amount of food we purchased. Two carts full, tipping the scales at $280. 60 sausages, 3 kilos of lunch meat, 4 kilos of hamburger, 48 rolls, something like 8 loaves of bread, it was pretty amazing. Even more amazing is the fact that we finished nearly all of this.
Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world. It is roughly 120 km long and 20km wide. The beach on the east coast of the island is a national highway, only passable at low tide when the sand is hard. The speed limit on the sand is about 55MPH. For a lot of really interesting info on the island, check out the wikipedia page! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraser_Island
There are attractions all over the island that are connected by 4x4 tracks. These are all single laned tracks with very soft sand and some very, very huge ruts. After we got off the ferry, I aired the tires down to 25PSI and we set off. The main track leads from the ferry deposit area, on the west coast of the island to the main highway on the east coast.
We arrived on the east coast and drove north. 40 minutes of driving later, we arrived at our first attraction, an old shipwreck on the shore. There are over 3.5 stories buried beneath the sand and it was used for bombing practice during WWII.
We set up camp for the night. No fires are allowed on the island, but luckily, nobody told the Aussies who camped next to us, and we were able to enjoy a campfire. It's just not camping if all your clothes don't smell like smoke when you get home!
We laid on the beach and stared up at the milky way, dispersed between more stars than I've ever seen in my life. When you walk on the wet beach, algae in the sand glows green for a split second, leaving a sparkling trail wherever you walk. It was absolutely beautiful.
Day 6 - Frasier Island
We were up sorta early. Our car kinda sat around and ate and was lazy whilst the other two cars busily packed up camp. They departed to see a stream we saw yesterday with plans to meet at Indian Head in a few hours.
We all went and laid on the beach for a while. A friend of mine was sleeping on his back on top of a towel, then rolled onto his stomach and said "Gah, what is that smell!?" He sat up and peeled back his towel to find that he was laying face first on top of the remains of a fish. Very, very funny stuff.
We headed north for over an hour with the mixed car. We swam in the champagne pools for awhile, which are natural pools blocked from the ocean by a rock formation. The waves crash over the wall into the pool, which is where they get their name. This is the only salt water on the island you are allowed to swim in, as stingers, jellyfish, and sharks are prominent in the warm open waters. We ate lunch and headed up to Indian Head, which is a rock formation that is very high and right at the water's edge. When the ocean is calm, you can see right into the water and see all sorts of aquatic life. We saw fishes, sea turtles and whales farther out. The view wasn't too bad either.
Upon leaving Indian Head, the girls car finally arrived. We told them we had just arrived to see them gloat about "We saw so much!", only to embarrass them. They had just arrived from the creek and were about to eat lunch, and were very proud of this until we told them everything we did. After the island, a girl in said car would be quoted as saying "We got up earlier than you every single day and you still saw more than us and beat us everywhere". Guys-1, Girls-0.
We visited Lake Wabby, which is the deepest lake on the island. The sand dunes around the lake go straight down into it. We spent the afternoon running, sliding and rolling down this giant dune into the cold clear water.
We set up camp near the main 4x4 track in the south of the island and called it a night.
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